Communications

Social Media at JFSUsing fun, cool stuff

in my day job

Low-cost, very effective, too. :-)

About the agency• 1,200 employees

• $2 billion in services– Child Protection – Child Support – Medicaid, food stamps, cash assistance– Other

Communications

About the agency

• Operating budget declining– 40% to $75 million in three years

• Demand for services increasing– 55,000 coming through doors monthly– More than 200 laid off thus far

Communications

Social Media Goal

• Improve accessibility and transparency at Hamilton County Department of Job and Family Services

• Engage audiences, not just broadcast

Communications

Social media objectives• To relieve pressure on crowded

waiting rooms and busy call centers

• To build relationships with key influencers in target audiences

• To make potential customers aware of our many services

• To give quick answers to questions

Communications

Communications

24 since May 2008Medicaid, food stamps, child support, job

services, adoption/foster

care…

Cost:$29 per

month for software

Live chats

Communications

Twitter (@HamiltonCoJFS): 130

June2008

Free

Communications

Facebook group: 74

January2008

Free

Communications

Facebook fan page: 27

January2008

Free

Communications

Audio podcast 500 visits month

October2007

Cost: $130

digital recorder

You Tube channel 3,000 views

Communications

September2007

Cost: $700 digital

camera; cost of

professional videos

Blog

Communications

February2008

Cost: $250

graphic artist

www.hcjfs.org

Communications

Monthly unique visitors

Tripled in

three years

to 30,000

Low cost• $2 billion organization

• Social media cost: $1,500

Communications

High benefit• Meeting pre-established objectives, goals

• TV, radio coverage

• Contributed to boss’ promotion

• Appeared on minister’s radio program

What we’ve learned• Daily maintenance: Relevant content

• Don’t get sucked into time drain

• Patience/stay with it

• Educating late adapters (in-house)

• Leverage personal networks

• Integrate with Speakers’ Bureau, media relations, newsletter, Web site…

• Measure with WebTrends, surveys…

Communications